GPS Devices which one or not ???

[scanzel]

I have been looking at the Garnin RV 760 and the Dezi 760 but don't see good reviews on the RV 760 maybe the truckers Dezi 760 is better. What is everyone using, any ideas/suggections.

[Astro]

I have used the RV760 for about 4 months. I am not sure what the beef really with it is with it over others. If you update the software, it is as accurate as any I have used (Tom Tom and Magellan).  IMO, they all suck to a degree as none have any easy user input to correct mistakes or bad direction.  Almost any non interstate will get you an "RV height risk". That notice is almost worthless. I often use my phone and the GPS to compare and validate where I need absolute accuracy and/or want choices.

All in all, it is the best I have used and so far I am pleased for the price. The touch screen doesn't need three try's to input a letter and the screen resolution is very nice.

[RJ]

Steve -

I've put 32K miles on a Garmin RV760LMT and haven't had any issues with it.  It's been updated three times, has a whole bunch of campgrounds already in the database, when you're in larger towns it automatically gives you traffic updates if there's an incident ahead of you so you can re-route if needed, plus I like the ability to upload the ONP files from the Yahoo group "Walmartrving."  I also like the nice 7" screen, much easier to read than the car units.

A couple other features I like is (after you've programmed in your vehicles dimensions) that it will warn you about sharp curves and steep downgrades ahead of you.  Probably the feature that's saved $$$ is the advance notice that the speed limit's changing, so you don't get nailed by the local yokel's radar as you come into a little town that generates it's police budget from unsuspecting motorists.  You can also set it for either the fastest or shortest route to your destination, depending on your travel plans.  I've also found it to be dead accurate if you program in the GPS coordinates of your destination - right down to the driveway!  (I'll use Google Maps on my laptop to locate my destination, then determine it's GPS coordinates.)   

Since the speedometer and odometer in Tortoise have failed, I usually keep the speedometer screen on when I'm not using the unit for navigation.  It has two trip odometers, A and B.  I reset A every time I fill the tank, but I haven't reset B since I bought the bus.

My only complaint is that the rubber suction cup that holds the unit to the dash is beginning to lose it's holding power, I'll probably just order another one from Garmin.  Obviously that has no effect on the unit's operation. . .

The RV 770 LMT is basically the new version of the 760 with a few more bells and whistles.

I have no experience with a Tom Tom, Magellen or Rand McNally unit, I've always had/used Garmins.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Lee Bradley]

I have the Good Sam RVND 7735 and have been very happy with it.  I have also used Garmin and Magellan and prefer the GS.

[eagle19952]

A Garmin NUVI 50 LTM is as good as any...i have used one for 10 years and never had a problem...and you can buy them now for $40.00 on ebay...
I have better things to do with my Benjamins.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Garmin-nuvi-50LM-5-Inch-Portable-GPS-Navigator-Bundle-Accessories-/232297621362?hash=item3616046772:g:yw0AAOSwnF9Y6loN

[Geoff]

The GPS on my smartphone is the easiest GPS I have ever used.  Turn by turn directions have never failed me.  
For my bus I have my laptop with Microsoft Streets and Trips hooked up to the ceiling LED TV which is the ultimate GPS with a 32" screen showing a map with a little car traveling on the road to your destination.  The only problem with that is that it also shows your speed which gets the wife to tell you that you are speeding.

--Geoff

[lostagain]

TomTom is OK but their service is not good. 4 or 5 years ago, I got a GPS with life time maps. I have never been able to down load them.

JC

[chessie4905]

I've had several Garmin nuvi models over the years and am mostly happy with them. I finally ditched the lousy suction cup idea after they fell off the dash or windshield several times, especially in hot weather. I now use Ram mounts exclusively, and they have cradles for about any Garmin, cell phone, tablet, and some laptops. They are the greatest thing since sliced bread imo.
I use the hard rubber ball mount with suitable length articulating arm connected to suitable cradle. I plan on getting an RV 760 next. I like the large size; easier to read as I have gotten older. You can switch it to automobile mode also. Google maps on a tablet would work nice also and you would have the benefit of it's other features.
BTW, how many of you have the Waze app? It's great for reporting cops, debris on road, traffic back up, vehicle off side of road, etc. Info is supplied by other drivers on same road. Probably not much help on rural low traffic roads though.

[Oonrahnjay]

I've had several Garmin nuvi models over the years and am mostly happy with them. ... I plan on getting an RV 760 next. I like the large size; easier to read as I have gotten older. You can switch it to automobile mode also. ... 

     Thanks for that, Chessie.  I have a Magellan 7" "Roadmate", chosen because of the "old eyes" thing.  It's ... just OK ... it's slow, it freezes, selecting destinations can be a PITA, and downloading maps can be frustrating.  They just went to a new "better" download system, which is -- of course -- much worse; it wiped out my paid-for life-time map feature (took a couple of days of emailing to get it restored, kinda, and I'm not sure it will work next time I try it).  But my biggest complaint is that there's no accommodation for the extra size to take advantage of detail.  If you think of the amount of detail that they can cram onto a 4 1/2" screen, that's all that's there on the 7" -- there's just a lot of empty blank space.  And once you move out beyond about a 2-mile or 3-mile scale, all the side roads and alternative routes drop out -- there goes your chance to pick up side  routes and ways around a traffic jam.  Oh, I didn't mention the occasional software freeze-ups with no way to re-boot the system, did I?
     You might think that I'm not really crazy about the Magellan, yeah?
     Thanks for the info on the Garmin, and the universal mounts.
BH etc.

[somewhereinusa]

I have had a number of GPS units from a number of manufactures. By far the best was a unit from Lowrance but they got out of the land GPS business. Rand Mcnalley was the worst. I really liked the Garmin Street Pilot but, like most things I like, the company no longer makes them.  I currently have a Garmin LMT760 RV and it is one of the better I have had. Large screen and mostly easy to use. I don't use the RV setting because it doesn't seem to know anything about where I am going and I don't like the pop up telling me that. Since I no longer drive a truck cross country the ability to easily see at a glance my entire two week itinerary isn't quite as important. Both the Lowrance and the Street Pilot excelled at that.

I made my own mount because the suction cup mount was unreliable.

[Oonrahnjay]

...
I made my own mount because the suction cup mount was unreliable.  ..

     Nice mount.  I'm going to save that and copy it.  Thanks. 

[windtrader]

I'm just curious what is special about dedicated GPS units discussed here?

All recent smartphones have GPS built in and with Waze and Google maps, etc., you get free navigation, mapping, and real time traffic updates. Most do require mobile internet access but some have offline modes. It's very easy to mount for clear viewing and access.

[Oonrahnjay]

I'm just curious what is special about dedicated GPS units discussed here? ...

     Designated truck routes, routes that work well for large vehicles, clearance (esp. overhead) information, and similar all programmed in.  And anyone who is old (like me) can't see a phone well enough to navigate with it, anyway.

[RJ]

I'm just curious what is special about dedicated GPS units discussed here?

Don -

Re-read my comments above about my dedicated GPS unit.

I have not found a way to program multiple stops with my smartphone's Google Maps, something easily done (and done often) on my Garmin.

Smartphone navigation does not allow you to program in your vehicle's size - everything is automatically assumed to be a car/pickup.  Thus often sending you down streets with low clearances, over bridges that have weight limits, and other places you shouldn't be with a big rig.

Difficult, if not impossible, to upload various POI files like the WalMart file mentioned above.  Easy if it's available as an app, but then you're having to exit out of navigation to utilize the app, whereas with the Garmin it shows up on the screen while traveling.

The RV and truck (Dezl) Garmins come with real time traffic conditions built in, without requiring a separate app.  Some of their smaller auto-focused units have the traffic conditions built in, also.

Now, having said that, I do use my smartphone navigation when running around in my car, even tho it frustrates me that I can't program multiple stops into the thing.  So I organize my route at home with a program called Driving Route Planner (http://www.drivingrouteplanner.com/), then write the stops in order on a post-it note which gets slapped on the dash.  Cumbersome, yet it works for me.

The 7" screen is a LOT easier to see than the smartphone when the dashboard is three feet away from you.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[windtrader]

Thanks all. There's definitely some features valuable when driving 15 tons of vehicle vs 2 tons down the road. We are driving these commercial vehicles through a DMV loophole. I'm the first one for less regulation but it makes sense there should be something beyond a license to drive a VW needed to safely drive them. Map apps that know what roads you can be on based on weight and height alone make the specialized units more than worth it to me. Thanks again, Don